Newly declassified records from the U.S. Department of Justice and FBI have reignited scrutiny over the circumstances surrounding the death of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, particularly regarding activity near his isolated cell tier on the night before his body was discovered.
The documents, part of a broader release of more than 3 million pages of Epstein-related materials, include surveillance review logs, FBI memoranda, and findings from the Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG). They detail observations from video footage taken at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in New York on the evening of August 9, 2019.
According to the records, at approximately 10:39 p.m. (0339 GMT), investigators identified a blurry “flash of orange” moving toward the L Tier stairway—the isolated housing unit where Epstein was being held alone in the Special Housing Unit (SHU). An FBI memorandum noted: “A flash of orange looks to be going up the L Tier stairs — could possibly be an inmate escorted up to that Tier.”
Official interpretations of the figure diverged. The FBI log described the movement as “possibly an inmate,” while the OIG’s final report concluded it was likely “an unidentified [corrections officer]” or someone carrying inmate linen. The inspector general’s assessment stated: “At approximately 10:39 p.m., an unidentified CO appeared to walk up the L Tier stairway, and then reappeared within view of the camera at 10:41 p.m. (0341 GMT).”
These findings appear to contradict earlier public assertions that no one entered or approached Epstein’s tier that night. In a Fox News interview, then-deputy FBI director Dan Bongino had insisted: “There’s video clear as day, he’s the only person in there and the only person coming out. You can see it.”
Independent analysis by CBS News, which reviewed the footage with forensic video experts, suggested the orange-colored movement was more consistent with an inmate or someone wearing a prison uniform, rather than a corrections officer in standard attire or someone carrying linens. The discrepancy has fueled renewed questions about the accuracy of prior official accounts and the completeness of the investigations.
The released files also provide further insight into conditions inside the SHU on the night of August 9–10, 2019. Interviews with other inmates described widespread drug use and lax supervision. Two corrections officers assigned to the unit, Tova Noel and Michael Thomas, later acknowledged significant lapses. Noel reportedly told investigators that her partner, Ghitto Bonhomme, slept for part of the shift. Required 30-minute wellness checks and inmate counts were not conducted overnight, as mandated by Bureau of Prisons policy.
Both Noel and Thomas were charged with falsifying records to cover up their failure to perform checks. Prosecutors ultimately dropped the charges in a deferred prosecution agreement in exchange for their cooperation with federal investigators.
Epstein’s body was discovered shortly after 6:30 a.m. (1130 GMT) on August 10, 2019, hanging in his cell. The New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner officially ruled the death a suicide by hanging. However, no precise time of death was ever established. During questioning, officer Michael Thomas recalled finding Epstein hanging and “ripped” him down but stated, “I don’t recall taking the noose off. I really don’t.” The ligature used was never conclusively identified or recovered in a manner that satisfied all investigative questions.
The surveillance footage from the SHU was described by the medical examiner as too unclear to positively identify individuals or movements with certainty. The OIG’s 2023 report on Epstein’s death ultimately attributed the incident to a combination of gross negligence, staffing shortages, falsified logs, and systemic failures at MCC, but concluded there was no evidence of criminal foul play.
The newly disclosed records have nevertheless revived public and media interest in the case. Conspiracy theories and skepticism about the official suicide ruling have persisted since 2019, fueled by Epstein’s high-profile connections, his earlier 2008 lenient plea deal, and the suspicious timing of his death while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges.
While the documents do not provide definitive proof of wrongdoing, the conflicting interpretations of the “orange flash” and the documented lapses in monitoring have prompted fresh calls for transparency. Some legal analysts and commentators argue the materials highlight inconsistencies that were under-emphasized in prior official conclusions.
The Department of Justice has not issued new commentary on the specific surveillance entry since the latest document release. The broader file dump continues to be reviewed by journalists, researchers, and legal experts, with expectations that additional details may further illuminate the final hours of Epstein’s life.
Epstein’s death remains one of the most scrutinized incidents in modern U.S. criminal justice history, and the release of these records ensures that questions about the events of August 9–10, 2019, will continue to be debated.
